In focus: Arsenal Ladies

mkdons.com takes an in-depth look at the Arsenal Ladies side that will do battle with Everton this Sunday for the FA Women’s Cup

QUICK HITS

Ground: Meadow Park (Capacity - 4,502; 500 seated)

Nickname: The Gunners

Kit: Red shirts, white shorts, red socks.

TEAM

Manager: Shelley Kerr

Kerr took charge of Arsenal Ladies in February 2013, succeeding the extremely successful Laura Harvey.

As a player, Kerr won every domestic honour in Scotland while starring for the likes of Edinburgh Dynamo, Kilmarnock Ladies and Hibernian Ladies. Kerr, a powerful centre-back, also captained the Scotland women’s national team and earned 59 caps for her country between 1989 and 2008, scoring three goals.

Kerr’s first management role came in June 2008 when, after leaving Hibernian, she joined Edinburgh rivals Spartans as player-manager.

A year later, Kerr was appointed Technical and Developmental Programme Manager for Girls and Women’s Football by the Scottish FA and in 2010 she led the Scottish Under-19s to the UEFA Women’s Championship finals.

Kerr, now a UEFA Pro Licence coach, has won the FA Women’s Cup and Continental Cup while in charge of Arsenal but will be leaving the Gunners following this Sunday’s final.

Captain: Kelly Smith

Striker Smith re-joined Arsenal in 2012 after a spell at Boston Breakers, returning to side where she scored 100 goals in 112 appearances between 2005 and 2009.

Made an MBE in 2008, Smith has featured in the top five of the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year rankings four times in her career, with other honours included a UEFA Women’s Cup medal, four Premier League titles and three FA Women’s Cups.

Smith is a highly-experienced England international and also starred for Great Britain at the Olympics.

Key player: Rachel Yankey

Yankey is currently in the eighth season of her second stint with Arsenal, having initially joined the club in 1996.

Considered one of England’s all-time greats, Yankey scored at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2011 and, just last year, broke Peter Shilton’s national record of 125 caps.

Yankey was awarded an MBE in 2005 and the pacy, versatile and tricky forward also featured in all of Team GB’s matches at the Olympics.

HISTORY

Arsenal Ladies were founded in 1987 by Vic Akers, the kit manager for the Arsenal men’s team.

Winning their first major honour, the Women’s League Cup, in 1992, Arsenal were then promoted to the FA Women’s Premier League and won the title in their debut season.

Arsenal’s most successful season, by some margin, is the 2006/07 campaign which saw them not only win all three domestic trophies but also the UEFA Women’s Champions League, then known as the UEFA Womens’ Cup. On top of that, the team also won the FA Women’s Community Shield and the local London County FA Women’s Cup.

In 2011, Arsenal were named the founder members of the FA WSL which commenced the following spring. They won the inaugural season, their eighth consecutive league title as well as completing another domestic treble by also lifting the FA Women’s Cup and the Continental Cup.

However, for only the second time in their history, Arsenal will not compete in the Champions League next season after finishing third in the FA Women’s Super League last season.

THIS SEASON

The disappointment of missing out on the Champions League last season appears to carried over into this season, with the Arsenal Ladies rock bottom of the Women’s Super League after the opening four games.

The Gunners, who picked up their only point of the campaign so far on the opening day against Notts County, have lost their last three games without scoring a goal and after their most recent defeat to Bristol City, manager Kerr announced she would be stepping down from her position as manager after this weekend’s clash with Everton at stadiummk.

Arsenal will therefore be hoping for a victory this Sunday to not only give Kerr a fitting send-off but to also re-ignite their Super League season which continues next weekend.

Tickets for the double-header are currently priced from £6 adults and £3 for concessions while a Family Ticket is available at £15. Ticket prices will increase on the day of the game to £10 for adults and £5 for concessions and a Family Ticket will increase by £5.

Please note clubRed will not be available for general sale for this fixture.

Car Parking is available on a first-come-first-serve basis priced at £7. There will be no Matchday Shuttle Service for this fixture.

The FA Women's Cup final kicks off at 4.30pm will also be broadcast live on BBC 2. The FA Girls' Youth Cup kicks off at 1pm.

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online/thecentre:mk, call 01908 622900 or buy mk
For tickets and match information, please visit stadium
Further information about the FA Women's Cup can be found at www.thefa.com.

To download the Charter Standard Booking Form click here

To download the Group Booking Form click hereFor details or to book a hospitality package, please call the commercial team on 01908 622884 or email commercial@mkdons.com. Prices start from just £45 per person.